Plan Of Attack

County To Spray Areas Threatened By Mosquito-Borne Disease

August 23, 2013

MAYVILLE - At an emergency meeting in response to New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Nirav Shah's declaration of an Imminent Threat to Public Health for mosquito-borne disease, the Chautauqua County Board of Health has authorized aerial spraying of adult mosquitoes in the area where infected pools were detected. In accordance with New York state regulations and the New York State Mosquito-borne Illness Surveillance & Response Plan, spraying is part of an effective surveillance and control system.

The finding of Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus as well as West Nile Virus in several mosquito pools indicates that a significant risk to human health is present in Chautauqua County.

"While no human disease has been detected, the presence of mosquitoes carrying the EEE virus as well as the West Nile Virus reinforces that the potential is there for an infected mosquito to bite humans and spread disease," said Christine Schuyler, director of Health and Human Services.

The Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Division, plans to conduct aerial spraying along the Conewango Creek in the town of Kiantone and the town of Carroll where the infected mosquitoes have been identified. Spraying will take place on Sunday evening. The rain date is Monday. The aerial spray will begin after 7 p.m. If the spraying is postponed due to weather conditions, residents will be notified through the news media, and information will be posted on the Chautauqua County website at www.myhealthycounty.com.

The area to be sprayed includes about 6,300 acres within these boundaries: U.S. Highway 62 to the west, Conewango Creek area between Peck Settlement Road and Wahlgren Road to the north up to and including Frewsburg, Ivory Road/Water Street/Warren Road to the east, and the New York/Pennsylvania state border to the south. Spraying will not take place over open waters such as the Conewango Creek.

Residents within the aerial spray boundaries will be notified of the aerial spraying by the NY Alert System.

The Chautauqua County Department of Health & Human Services has received permission and permits required to conduct aerial spraying from the New York State Department of Health and Department of Environmental Conservation. The product, Kontrol 30-30 (30 percent permethrin, 30 percent Piperonly Butoxide, EPA Reg. No 73748-5), will be applied in a diluted form. The EPA toxicity category signal word is "caution."

The county has contracted with Duflo Spray-Chemical from Lowville to conduct the aerial spraying. The spray will be applied by blue, white and gold twin engine Piper Aztec aircrafts. The procedure is approved by the New York State Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Conservation. This agency regularly conducts aerial spraying throughout New York state.

"The goal of the aerial spray is to control the mosquito population to reduce the chance that an infected mosquito bites a human being," said Schuyler. "It remains vitally important that people continue to diligently perform individual mosquito bite prevention measures after the aerial spray takes place."

Advisements for those in the spraying along the Conewango Creek in the town of Kiantone and the town of Carroll:

Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed for one hour after the spraying.

Keep pets indoors.

Close the vents on window air-conditioners so that outside air doesn't enter the home for one hour.

Remove outdoor toys, outdoor furniture and clothing from the clothesline. Items left outdoors should be washed thoroughly with soap and water before using.

If you are driving through an area while spraying takes place, close your car windows and vents.

Cover gardens or rinse homegrown fruits and vegetables thoroughly before cooking or eating.

A copy of the pesticide label and MSDS including all warnings, and fact sheets about permethrin aerial spraying can be found on the Chautauqua County website at www.myhealthycounty.com or by calling the CCDHHS' Public Health Division at 753-4481 or 1-800-604-6789.

The notification cover sheet and copies of labels for pesticides used in the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Environmental Health, 7 N. Erie St., Mayville, are available at this address or by calling 753-4491. For more information regarding the proposed pesticides, contact the National Pesticide Information Center at 1-800-858-7378. For information regarding pesticide poisoning, contact the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. For information regarding pesticide regulation, contact the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Pest Management, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233, 518-402-8788.